Upland's Community Heroes recognized at the L.A. County Fair

UPLAND - Residents, friends and officials honored three locals earlier this month for their devotion to their community during "Upland Day" at the L.A. County Fair.

The Upland's Community Heroes were senior hero Loren Sanchez, a member of the library's Board of Trustees and former superintendent of the Upland Unified School District; adult hero Lisa Monforte, a volunteer with the Upland Adopt a Soldier Military Banner program; and young adult hero Christopher Corbin, a 12-year-old Upland athlete who passed away from cancer in July.

"I work with and have the honor to serve on various boards with a lot of very talented and bright people, so I again am very humbled by being selected because there are a lot of people out there who have done the same thing and are doing the same thing that I have done that could be honored as well," said Sanchez, who has spent more than 40 years serving the community and volunteering with more than 17 local organizations.

Sanchez's service includes serving on the San Antonio Community Hospital Foundation board as well as vice president of Upland's Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Upland Traffic Safety Committee. He is also the treasurer of the Price Foundation board and vice president of the Chaffey College Foundation board.

Monforte has spent the past two years raising nearly $57,000 for the banner program, which allows families of loved ones serving in the military to hang a banner in their honor.

She has been a leader with St. Joseph Church's marriage enrichment program for 15 years, volunteered in the Upland Unified School District and has been recognized as a top fundraiser for the Mary Kay Foundation, an organization that focuses on ending cancer among women and domestic abuse.

"It's just very humbling because I don't need the recognition," Monforte said. "I appreciate people acknowledging it."

"I would rather just have those banners just keep going up and these kids coming home and for the families and loved ones to see that banner and know we care."

Christopher was recognized for being a courageous young athlete who fought hard against cancer. He passed away at 12 years old in July and was diagnosed with cancer in November 2010, which spread from his femur to his lungs.

A highlight of Christopher's childhood baseball career was striking out 13 players in one game.

He was also remembered for his bravery and ability to smile and laugh despite his diagnosis.

The heroes were recognized during a presentation and parade on Sept. 13 through the fairgrounds at Fairplex in Pomona.